Uriah Franklin "Bill" Corkrum papers, circa 1880s-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Corkrum, Uriah Franklin "Bill"
Title
Uriah Franklin "Bill" Corkrum papers
Dates
circa 1880s-2000 (inclusive)
1941-1989 (bulk)
Quantity
8.8 linear feet, (10 boxes)
Collection Number
WCMss.045
Summary
Bill Corkrum was a longtime Walla Walla farmer, businessman, and aviator. This collection includes his college records, military records, business records, personal records, and photographs of the Corkrum family, one of the earliest families to settle in Walla Walla.
Repository
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Uriah Franklin "Bill" Corkrum was born in Dixie, Washington on March 1, 1917 to a family of early settlers of Walla Walla County, dating back to the 1850s. He attended Washington State College in Pullman for two years before being accepted as a pilot into the Army Air Corps in 1941. Corkrum flew in the Pacific theatre during World War II and was highly decorated, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He was discharged in 1947 having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Corkrum owned and operated one of the largest wheat and green pea operations in Walla Walla County. He was an early innovator and entrepreneur, creating Ag-Data Inc., a local computer company, in the early 1960s. Corkrum died in 2007.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Uriah Franklin "Bill" Corkrum papers houses family papers and letters from the Corkrum, Frazier, Gwin and Chew families. Also included is Bill Corkrum's college memorabilia from his time at Washington State College circa 1938 to 1941, as well as Corkrum's flight logs and military memorabilia from 1941 to 1945. Additionally, it contains farm records from 1947 to 1989 and business records of Ag-Data Inc. circa 1960s. Corkrum's personal photographs and album scrapbooks are also included.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Barlow Corkrum on October 19, 2007. The accession number is 2007-025.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Corkrum, Uriah Franklin "Bill"